Pete Briquette
Encyclopedia
Pete Briquette is the stage name
of Patrick Cusack (born 2 July 1954, Ballyjamesduff
, County Cavan
, Ireland
). His pseudonym
refers to the fact that he hails from the Irish countryside; peat
briquette
s are a type of refined turf burned in fires instead of coal
.
ist, backing vocalist
, occasional songwriter, and sometime keyboardist
for the band
, The Boomtown Rats
. His basslines are evident on such Boomtown Rats song
s as "Rat Trap
", "Banana Republic
" and "Like Clockwork
" (the last two of which he co-wrote with the band's singer Bob Geldof
). Briquette is the only Rats member that still frequently collaborates with Geldof, playing on some of his biggest hits such as "Great Song of Indifference" and "Love or Something".
and was notably the producer of French singer Renaud
's 2009 album of Irish ballads Molly Malone - Balade Irlandaise which includes contributions from Terry Woods (The Pogues
), Barney McKenns (The Dubliners
) and Glen Hanson. Though much criticised for the quality of Renaud's voice, the album was commercially successful and reached number one on the French charts.
of Johnny Fingers
, the main keyboardist in The Boomtown Rats, as their mothers, Cecilia "Sheila" (Bowles) Moylett and Margaret "Peggy" (Bowles) Cusack, are sisters. He currently lives in Chiswick
, London
, England
.
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
of Patrick Cusack (born 2 July 1954, Ballyjamesduff
Ballyjamesduff
Ballyjamesduff is a medium-sized town with a population of 2,240 in County Cavan in Ireland, located on the R194 regional road. Formerly a market town and winner of the 1966 and 1967 Irish Tidy Towns Competition, Ballyjamesduff is now one of the fastest growing towns in the region due to its...
, County Cavan
County Cavan
County Cavan is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Cavan. Cavan County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
). His pseudonym
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
refers to the fact that he hails from the Irish countryside; peat
Peat
Peat is an accumulation of partially decayed vegetation matter or histosol. Peat forms in wetland bogs, moors, muskegs, pocosins, mires, and peat swamp forests. Peat is harvested as an important source of fuel in certain parts of the world...
briquette
Briquette
A briquette is a block of flammable matter used as fuel to start and maintain a fire. Common types of briquettes are charcoal briquettes and biomass briquettes.-Constituents of charcoal briquettes:...
s are a type of refined turf burned in fires instead of coal
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
.
Boomtown Rats
He was the bass guitarBass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
ist, backing vocalist
Backing vocalist
A backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
, occasional songwriter, and sometime keyboardist
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
for the band
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
, The Boomtown Rats
The Boomtown Rats
The Boomtown Rats were an Irish punk rock band that had a series of Irish and UK hits between 1977 and 1985. They were led by vocalist Bob Geldof.-Biography:All six members were originally from Dún Laoghaire, Ireland...
. His basslines are evident on such Boomtown Rats song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
s as "Rat Trap
Rat Trap
"Rat Trap" was a single by The Boomtown Rats which reached #1 in the UK singles chart for two weeks in November 1978, the first single by a punk or new wave act to do so...
", "Banana Republic
Banana Republic (Boomtown Rats song)
"Banana Republic" was the first single from The Boomtown Rats' album Mondo Bongo. It peaked at number three in the UK charts and was the band's last major commercial success. Breaking from the band's previous new wave sound the song opens with a ska-reggae hook . However the song itself is a more...
" and "Like Clockwork
Like Clockwork
"Like Clockwork" is a single by The Boomtown Rats. It was the band's first to break the top ten in the British charts reaching number 6. Described as simple, cool,...
" (the last two of which he co-wrote with the band's singer Bob Geldof
Bob Geldof
Robert Frederick Zenon "Bob" Geldof, KBE is an Irish singer, songwriter, author, occasional actor and political activist. He rose to prominence as the lead singer of the Irish rock band The Boomtown Rats in the late 1970s and early 1980s alongside the punk rock movement. The band had hits with his...
). Briquette is the only Rats member that still frequently collaborates with Geldof, playing on some of his biggest hits such as "Great Song of Indifference" and "Love or Something".
Career as a producer
Briquette now works as a record producerRecord producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
and was notably the producer of French singer Renaud
Renaud
Renaud, born Renaud Séchan, is a French singer, songwriter and actor.Renaud may also refer to:* Renaud , a male French given name* Renaud , a 1783 opera by Antonio Sacchini* Renaud, Quebec, part of Laval, Quebec...
's 2009 album of Irish ballads Molly Malone - Balade Irlandaise which includes contributions from Terry Woods (The Pogues
The Pogues
The Pogues are a Celtic punk band, formed in 1982 and fronted by Shane MacGowan. The band reached international prominence in the 1980s and early 1990s. MacGowan left the band in 1991 due to drinking problems but the band continued first with Joe Strummer and then with Spider Stacy on vocals before...
), Barney McKenns (The Dubliners
The Dubliners
The Dubliners are an Irish folk band founded in 1962.-Formation and history:The Dubliners, initially known as "The Ronnie Drew Ballad Group", formed in 1962 and made a name for themselves playing regularly in O'Donoghue's Pub in Dublin...
) and Glen Hanson. Though much criticised for the quality of Renaud's voice, the album was commercially successful and reached number one on the French charts.
Personal life
Briquette is the first cousinCousin
In kinship terminology, a cousin is a relative with whom one shares one or more common ancestors. The term is rarely used when referring to a relative in one's immediate family where there is a more specific term . The term "blood relative" can be used synonymously and establishes the existence of...
of Johnny Fingers
Johnny Fingers
Johnnie Fingers is a pop pianist, and was a founding member of the new wave band, The Boomtown Rats. He was notable for his stage costume of striped pyjamas as well as his melodic piano style.-Background:...
, the main keyboardist in The Boomtown Rats, as their mothers, Cecilia "Sheila" (Bowles) Moylett and Margaret "Peggy" (Bowles) Cusack, are sisters. He currently lives in Chiswick
Chiswick
Chiswick is a large suburb of west London, England and part of the London Borough of Hounslow. It is located on a meander of the River Thames, west of Charing Cross and is one of 35 major centres identified in the London Plan. It was historically an ancient parish in the county of Middlesex, with...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
External links
- A list of some of Briquette's recent projects
- Famous people in Ballyjamesduff
- http://www.boomtownrats.co.uk/pete-briquette.html